1864 curriculum funded by RBC and P.E.I. 2014

External Links

(Note: CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external links.)

The P.E.I. Department of Education is expanding its curriculum on the Charlottetown Conference in 1864, and the role it played in Confederation.

P.E.I. could do a better job at educating students about the province's role in Confederation, says Education Minister Alan McIsaac. (CBC)

The meetings, held at Province House, were the first to seriously discuss the idea of a union between Upper and Lower Canada and the Maritime provinces, an idea that would lead to the birth of Canada three years later.

P.E.I. has already begun a year-long celebration of the 150th anniversary of the meeting, and Education Minister Alan McIsaac told CBC News this is the ideal time to expand the curriculum for Island students.

"It's pretty important that we let our people within the province know exactly the role that we played with getting this country started," said McIsaac.

Teachers will help build the curriculum. It will be available in May and will include field trips. The $200,000 cost is being provided by the P.E.I. 2014 fund and the Royal Bank.

P.E.I.'s role in Confederation is already discussed in grades six and 10 for French and French immersion students, and in grades six, seven and 12 for English students, but McIsaac believes the province can do better.

"Maybe we weren't doing much justice to our past here," he said.

"But now with the celebration of the sesquicentennial, the 150th anniversary, it kind of brings it to light, and brings it to mind. And I think it's good that we celebrate and take advantage of this time."

The curriculum will be taught this year, but in the future it won't be mandatory. It will remain available to teachers who wish to present it to their students.